Closed granular chemical handling system

ABSTRACT

A closed granular chemical handling system comprising a dispensing valve and a receiving valve. The dispensing valve and the receiving valve are automatically opened when the valves are coupled together, and are automatically closed when the valves are uncoupled from one another. The valves are configured so that the receiving valve always is the first to open and the last to close. The valves are driven together by a camming structure having a neutral portion that acts as a delay between the opening and closing of both valves so as to allow granular material to flow from between the valves through the receiving valve.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/329,469,filed Mar. 27, 1989, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a closed granular chemical handlingsystem having a dispensing valve mounted to a chemical package and areceiving valve mounted to an application means. When the two valves arecoupled to one another they automatically open to provide a path throughwhich chemical can flow from the package to the application means. Inaddition, when the two valves are uncoupled from one another they bothautomatically close.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Agricultural planters are used for planting seeds in a field. Typicallyseeds are stored in a hopper and are dispensed from the hopper by a seedmeter. To minimize the number of passes a farmer is required to make, aplanter is typically provided with additional hoppers for holdingfertilizer or granular chemical pesticides. These hoppers are providedwith chemical meters for controlling the flow of fertilizer andpesticide onto the field.

Some planters having a plurality of planting units are provided with across auger for directing granular fertilizer from a side loading pointto individual hoppers. Liquid fertilizers have also been directed toindividual tanks on a planter. In the liquid fertilizer system, asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,522, to Hartwig, liquid fertilizer in amobile tanker is pumped through a hose to a manifold located on theplanter. The hose is coupled to the planter at a coupling valve.

In many instances it is desirable for agricultural workers not todirectly handle certain agricultural treatment agents, such asherbicides, insecticides or fertilizers. These agricultural treatmentagents are typically delivered to the agricultural workers in sealedcontainers which must be opened to direct the chemicals to the hopperlocated on the planter.

To minimize exposure to these chemicals, many times it is recommendedfor agricultural workers to wear various items of protective clothing,such as rubber gloves and respirators, when loading the planter withthese chemicals. After a planting operation, some of the chemicalpackages may still contain unused chemicals. The empty packages and theremaining chemical must be stored or disposed of in an approved method.

Typical valve systems for controlling the feed of a product from acontainer are disclosed in the following U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. Nos.4,489,858, to Pritchitt, 4,164,307, to Inamura et al, 3,543,814, toAluotto, 3,446,403, to Serio, 3,296,649, to Schwartzman, 3,187,965, toBourget, 2,975,465, to Lerner et al, 2,210,206, to Fisher, 2,182,878, toPipenhagen, 1,934,197, to Mackay et al, and 1,257,910, to Meves. Thedevices disclosed in the above-identified patents illustrate containervalve assemblies mounted to the discharge openings of their respectivecontainers for controlling the discharge of diverse materials such aspowders, powdered soap, cleaning fluid, cosmetics, shoe polish, milk,coffee, and toner for copying machines. The Pipenhagen patent is ofparticular interest in that it discloses a portable container and valvesystem for manually applying granular agricultural materials, such asfertilizers, in a home gardening procedure.

None of the devices disclosed in the above identified patents aredirected to a safe handling system for large scale application ofcommercial quantities of granular agricultural treatment material from acontainer. Moreover, the devices disclosed by the above-identifiedpatents do not teach or suggest a system in which a dispensing valveassembly is adapted to interact with a complimentary receiving valveassembly on a hopper to assure that product will not flow from thecontainer until the container is properly mounted to the hopperstructure. The prior art does not recognize a system in which adispensing valve interacts with a hopper mounted receiving valve havinga time delay between the opening and closing of the valves to assureproper flow of the product and prevent leakage of the product before thecontainer is removed from the hopper.

SUMMARY

A closed handling system for a chemical product comprising two valves, adispensing valve and a receiving valve. Both valves are spring biasedinto a closed position. The valves automatically open when thedispensing valve is properly coupled to the receiving valve. Whenuncoupling the dispensing valve from the receiving valve both valvesautomatically close. A sequencing means opens the receiving valve firstand closes the receiving valve last during coupling and uncouplingoperations. A delay means delays the uncoupling of the valves so thatthe granular material has time to clear the valve structures and enterthe open receiving valve.

The dispensing valve is mounted on a chemical package. The dispensingvalve comprises a housing having a passage located inside the packageand a sliding tubular portion located inside the housing. The housing isalso provided with a first valve seat that cooperates with the slidingtubular portion to seal the valve and thereby the chemical package. Abiassing spring is positioned between the tubular portion and thehousing for biassing the tubular portion into contact with the firstvalve seat. The tubular portion is provided with a guide post thatcooperates with a guide aperture formed in the housing for guiding thevertical movement of the tubular portion.

The receiving valve is mounted on an application means, such as agranular chemical hopper for an agricultural planter. The receivingvalve comprises a stationary valve disc and a slidable sleeve having avalve seat that contacts the valve disc. The stationary valve disc ismounted to a tower that projects upwardly from the hopper. The tower islocated inside the slidable sleeve and defines passages through which agranular chemical can flow. The slidable sleeve is provided with aconical baffle that overlies a conical portion located on the hopper. Adust seal is mounted to the conical portion for wiping contact with theslidable sleeve. A biassing spring is positioned between the conicalbaffle and the conical portion for biassing the slidable sleeve towardsthe stationary disc.

The receiving valve is provided with an outer cup having upstandingwalls and inwardly projecting lugs. The dispensing valve is providedwith an inner cup having camming grooves. The inner cup istelescopically received in the outer cup of the receiving valve whencoupling the valves together. The inwardly projecting lugs of the outercup engage the camming grooves of the inner cup for driving thedispensing valve towards the receiving valve, as the valves are rotatedrelative to one another.

When coupling the valves to one another, the dispensing valve ispositioned over the receiving valve and the cups are telescopicallyjoined together. The dispensing valve is then rotated so that theinwardly projecting lugs on the outer cup engage the camming grooves onthe inner cup driving the dispensing valve towards the receiving valve.As the dispensing valve is driven towards the receiving valve the innercup engages the conical baffle of the receiving valve and drives itdownwardly away from the stationary disc opening the receiving valve.After the receiving valve is opened, the dispensing valve is stillclosed. A closed conduit is formed between the dispensing valve and thereceiving valve by the valve seat of the receiving valve engaging asecond dispensing valve seat formed at the bottom of the dispensingvalve housing. The dispensing valve is further rotated through a neutralportion of the camming groove, wherein the receiving valve remains openand the dispensing valve remains closed. As the dispensing valve isfurther rotated it encounters the opening portion of the camming groovewhere the dispensing valve is driven downwards towards the receivingvalve. During the opening portion of the camming groove, the stationarydisc engages the bottom of the valve member driving it upwards into thehousing and away from the first dispensing valve seat. By driving thevalve member away from the valve seat the dispensing valve is opened andgranular chemical material is free to pour from the chemical packagethrough the dispensing and receiving valves into the hopper.

When uncoupling the dispensing valve from the receiving valve theprocess is reversed. The dispensing valve is rotated relative to thereceiving valve driving the dispensing valve upwards away from thereceiving valve. At first the dispensing valve encounters the openingportion of the camming groove and ascends relative to the receivingvalve. The valve member engages the first dispensing valve seat closingthe dispensing valve. During the neutral portion of the camming groovethe dispensing valve remains closed and the receiving valve remainsopen. Granular material located in the closed conduit formed between thevalves is allowed to flow through the closed conduit and receiving valveinto the hopper. The neutral portion providing a time delay in which thematerial can flow through the closed conduit. As the dispensing valve isfurther rotated in an uncoupling manner the dispensing valve is againdriven away from the receiving valve closing the receiving valve.

As the dispensing valve is being uncoupled from the receiving valve, theslidable sleeve rises towards the stationary disc. The slidable sleevethereby establishes a new fill level in the hopper. Thereby providingadditional room, in a full hopper, for granular chemical located in theclosed conduit formed between the valves.

The valve member and the stationary disc are rotatively locked togetherby cooperating projections. Therefore as the dispensing valve is rotatedrelative to the receiving valve, the valve member and stationary discare locked together in a stationary position thereby providing a wipingaction on the valve seats further clearing the granular material fromthe closed conduit by wiping it into the receiving valve.

The neutral portion of the camming groove provides the delay means fordelaying the closing of the receiving valve when uncoupling the valves.The delay means provides time for granular chemical material to fallthrough receiving valve into the hopper. In addition, the delay meansincreases the length of wiping contact of the valve member and thestationary disc with the valve seats. The delay means is formed by alevel section of the camming groove. This level section requires theoperator to rotate the dispensing valve, approximately 69 degrees, in alevel configuration before further closing the receiving valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an agricultural planter having thesubject closed granular chemical handling system.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the dispensing and receiving valves.

FIGS. 3-5 are cross sectional views of the valve coupling and openingsequence.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the dispensing valve taken along line 6--6 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a flat view of the circular camming grooves.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the dispensing valve taken along line 8--8 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the receiving valve.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the dispensing valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single planting unit 10 mounted ontoolbar 12. The planting unit can be of a conventional configuration andas such will only be briefly discussed. The planting unit is providedwith a seed hopper 14 which is coupled to a seed meter (not shown) whichdirect seed to planting assembly 16. The planting assembly forms afurrow into which the seed is inserted. The planting assembly thencloses the furrow.

The planting unit is also provided with a granular chemical hopper 18having a granular chemical meter 19, shown in phantom lines, fordispensing granular chemical to chemical applicator 20. The chemicalmeter can be of any conventional configuration, such as the oneillustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,229, assigned to one of the assigneesof the present invention, and which is incorporated herein by reference.Lid 22 of the chemical hopper is provided with a receiving valve 24. Inaddition, the lid is provided with window 26 for viewing the contents ofthe hopper.

The chemical material typically loaded into the chemical hopper includespesticides (e.g., insecticides, herbicides and fungicides) which can beapplied as granules. The granular material is normally composed of apesticide and a carrier which is (a) sorptive such as clays, (b)non-sorptive such as sand and limestone, or (c) resin particulates orbeads such as polyvinyl chloride particles.

To add chemicals to the hopper a granular chemical package 28 havingdispensing valve 30 is coupled to the receiving valve. The dispensingvalve is coupled to the receiving valve by applying the dispensing valveto the receiving valve in a twisting clockwise motion. Although thepresent invention is being described as coupling a chemical package to ahopper, the chemical package could also be directly coupled to areceiving valve located immediately upstream from the chemical meter. Insuch a configuration, the chemical package itself would form thechemical hopper for the planter. However, by providing the receivingvalve on the lid of the hopper the subject closed handling system ismore easily retrofitted onto existing planters.

The subject closed granular chemical handling system can also be usedfor loading seed onto the planter. Chemicals may be directly applied toseed. In such applications, the seed could be added to the seed hopperusing the present closed granular chemical handling system. When used ina seed application, the seed meter forms the metering valve and theplanting assembly the application means.

The internal structure of the receiving valve and dispensing valve arebest illustrated in FIGS. 2-5. The receiving valve is coupled to planterlid 22. The receiving valve comprises a stationary valve disc 32 that ismounted to tower 34. The tower comprises a cross shaped member whichdefines four passages through which granular chemical material can flowto the hopper. The receiving valve further comprises slidable sleeve 36having conical baffle 38. The sleeve is provided with valve seat 40which cooperates with stationary disc 32 to close the receiving valve.Biasing spring 42 is positioned between conical portion 44 and theunderside of baffle 38 for driving the valve seat into contact with thestationary disc. The biasing spring is supported on landings 45 formedon the conical portion. Dust seal 47 is located between slidable sleeve36 and conical portion 44. The dust seal is in wiping contact with theslidable sleeve to prevent dust and chemical granules from escaping fromthe hopper. The slidable sleeve has legs 46 that extend beneath thecross shaped members of the tower and are joined together by ring 48.The top of the stationary disc is provided with upwardly extendingprojections 49 which will be discussed in more detail below.

The receiving valve is also provided with outer cup 50 having upstandingwalls 52 that are provided with inwardly projecting lugs 54. The outercup is used for coupling the dispensing valve to the receiving valve.The outer cup telescopically receives inner cup 56 of the dispensingvalve. The inner cup of the dispensing valve is provided with camminggrooves 58, better illustrated in FIG. 7, which engage lugs 54 fordriving the dispensing valve downwardly towards the receiving valve.

Dispensing valve 30 is mounted to the dispensing nozzle of chemicalpackage 28 by connector elements 59 which engage slots 61 formed in thedispensing valve. The dispensing valve forms the dispensing assembly forthe package. The dispensing valve comprises housing 60 having passage62. Slidable valve member 64 having tubular skirt 65 is located insidethe housing. Valve member 64 is biassed downwardly by spring 66 so thatedge 67 of skirt 65 comes into contact with first valve seat 68. Valveseat 68 is inwardly canted to provide a sealing surface for outwardlycanted edge 67. It has been found that it is desirable that edge 67 be asharp edge so that it can cut through trapped granules when the valvesare rotated through the neutral cam groove portion. The top of the valvemember is provided with guide post 70 which cooperates with guideaperture 72 formed in housing 60 for guiding the vertical movement ofthe sliding valve member. Housing 60 forms an air pocket above valvemember 64 so that granular chemical does not compact above member 64preventing its opening.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the dispensing valve is initially coupledto the receiving valve, receiving valve seat 40 engages a second valveseat 74 located beneath first valve seat 68 of the dispensing valve.When receiving valve seat 40 engages second valve seat 74 it forms aclosed conduit for granular chemical material flowing from thedispensing valve to the receiving valve. Second valve seat 74 isprovided with an overlapping lip 75, that shingles over receiving valveseat 40 to prevent chemical granules from lodging in the valveinterface.

Dispensing valve 30 is provided with downwardly extending projections 76which cooperate with upwardly extending projections 49 of receivingvalve 24 to provide a locking means for preventing the rotation of valvemember 64. This provides for a wiping action between valve member 64 andfirst dispensing valve seat 68 when dispensing valve 30 is being removedfrom receiving valve 24.

In removing the package from the planter, dispensing valve 30 is rotatedcounter clockwise relative to receiving valve 24. Cooperatingprojections 49 and 76 lock valve member 64 to the stationary disc 32thereby causing relative rotation between first dispensing valve seat 68and valve member 64. This wiping action aids in closing dispensing valve30 by wiping trapped granules from between valve member 64 and valveseat 68. Stationary disc 32 wipes granules away from annular edge 77 ofthe dispensing valve and valve seat 40 of the receiving valve when itdescends into a closed position.

Camming groove 58 of dispensing valve 30 is best illustrated in FIG. 7.The camming groove has three distinct portions: introduction portion 80,neutral portion 82 and opening portion 84. Introduction portion 80 isthat portion where the lugs are introduced into the groove. During theintroduction portion of the camming sequence, lug 54 enters introductionportion 80, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Ramp 81 of introduction portion 80drives dispensing valve 30 downwardly against receiving valve 24. Thisdownward movement initially opens receiving valve 24 and joins valveseat 40 to second dispensing valve seat 74, as illustrated in FIG. 4.Neutral portion 82 of the camming groove is substantially level. Theneutral portion maintains the FIG. 4 configuration, that is thereceiving valve is open and the dispensing valve is closed. In theneutral portion of the camming groove the dispensing valve is rotatedapproximately 69 degrees from the end of introduction portion 80 to thebeginning of opening portion 84. This provides a delay means in whichthe granular material has time to fall through the valve structuresduring the removal operation. In addition, this delay increases theduration of the wiping action of valve member 64 and stationary disc 32.Opening portion 84 is provided with ramp 85 which further drivesdispensing valve 30 downwardly against the receiving valve 24.

During the opening portion of the camming sequence stationary disc 32contacts the underside of valve member 64 driving slidable portion 64away from first dispensing valve seat 68. Granular material in package28 is then free to fall through passage 62 into the passages formed bycross shaped tower 34.

During the package removal operation, the package is rotated throughopening portion 84 driving dispensing valve 30 upwards away fromreceiving valve 24. When the lugs of the receiving valve reach theneutral portion of the camming grooves the valves are in theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 4. Further rotation of dispensingvalve 30 relative to receiving valve 24, through the neutral portion ofthe camming sequence, causes the wiping action between valve member 64and first dispensing valve seat 68. After the lugs of the receivingvalve 24 reach the introduction portion of the camming groove, receivingvalve 24 is closed and the package can be removed.

Stationary disc 32 is received in tubular skirt 65 when slidable portion64 is opened relative to valve seat 68. Therefore, whenever there ischemical flow through the dispensing valve, stationary disc 32 iselevated above valve edge 67 so that chemical granules are free to fallthrough the receiving valve as the dispensing valve is closing. Inaddition, as the dispensing valve closes slidable sleeve 36 moves upwardallowing granular chemical in the closed conduit to flow away from thebottom of the sleeve into the hopper. This upward movement of theslidable sleeve facilitates the hopper accepting additional granularchemical located in the closed conduit when the hopper is full and thepackage is uncoupled.

It should be noted that lugs 54 and groove 58 can be arranged in areversed configuration. That is, lugs 54 could be located on inner cup56 and groove 58 located on outer cup 50.

Receiving valve 24 and dispensing valve 30 are arranged so that thereceiving valve is the first to open and last to close. The overallstructure of the valves comprises a sequencing means which ensures thatgranular material will not be prematurely spilled through the dispensingvalve before the receiving valve is opened. Similarly, closing thedispensing valve first, permits granular material trapped between thevalves time to flow through the receiving valve into the hopper beforethe valves are disconnected.

With the present invention, the package can be removed from the hopperwhile still partially filled with granular material and will beautomatically sealed by the operation of the dispensing valve.

In using the present invention, a user first aligns the dispensing valveof the chemical package with the receiving valve of the applicationmeans. The user then couples the dispensing valve to the receivingvalve. With the presently disclosed system the coupling operationcomprises rotating the chemical container relative to the receivingvalve, however other coupling methods could be used. The presentinvention then automatically opens the receiving valve and thedispensing valve. The opening of the two valves is sequenced so that thereceiving valve is automatically opened first. The present inventiondelays the opening of the dispensing valve after the opening of thereceiving valve by a predetermined coupling movement. In the abovedescribed invention, the predetermined coupling movement comprisesrotating the dispensing valve approximately 69 degrees through theneutral portion of the camming groove. After the granular chemical hasbeen emptied into the application means, the dispensing valve isuncoupled from the receiving valve. The dispensing valve and thereceiving valve are automatically closed during the uncouplingoperation. The closing is sequenced so that the dispensing valve isclosed first and the receiving valve is closed last. In addition theclosing of the receiving valve is delayed by the predetermined couplingmovement so that granular material is allowed to flow from between thevalves through the receiving valve and into the hopper. The valve seatsof the receiving valve and the dispensing valve are wiped of granulesduring the delay.

In the preferred embodiment discussed above, the valves automaticallyopen when correctly coupled to one another. However, the opening of thevalves could be manually actuated after the valves are coupled to oneanother. Therefore, invention should not be limited by theabove-described embodiment, but should be limited solely by the claimsthat follow.

We claim:
 1. A granular chemical applicator comprising:application meansfor applying a granular chemical; a metering valve operativelyassociated with the application means for controlling the flow ofchemical to the application means; a package for holding a chemical tobe delivered to the metering valve; a dispensing valve mounted to thepackage for controlling the flow of chemical from the package; areceiving valve operatively associated with the metering valve forreceiving chemical from the package through the dispensing valve anddirecting it to the metering valve, whereby when the dispensing valve iscoupled to the receiving valve, both the dispensing valve and receivingvalve are automatically opened, and when the dispensing valve isuncoupled from the receiving valve, both the dispensing valve and thereceiving valve are automatically closed, the receiving valve comprisesa stationary valve disc and a sliding sleeve having a valve seat whichcontacts the disc, the receiving valve is opened by sliding the slidingsleeve away from the valve disc when the dispensing valve is coupled tothe receiving valve, the stationary valve disc is mounted to a towerthat projects upwardly from the application means, the tower beinglocated inside the sliding sleeve and defining passages through which achemical can flow, when the dispensing valve is uncoupled from thereceiving valve the slidable sleeve rises up the tower towards thestationary disc establishing a new fill level in the hopper andproviding additional room in the hopper for granular chemical located inthe closed conduit formed between the valves; a sequencing means foropening the receiving valve first when the receiving valve is coupled tothe dispensing valve and closing the receiving valve last when thedispensing valve is uncoupled from the receiving valve.
 2. A granularchemical applicator as defined by claim 1 wherein the receiving valve isprovided with a conical portion and the sliding sleeve is provided witha conical baffle that overlies the conical portion.
 3. A granularchemical applicator as defined by claim 2 wherein a spring is positionedbetween the conical portion and the conical baffle for biasing theslidable sleeve upwardly into contact with the stationary valve disc. 4.A granular chemical applicator as defined by claim 3 wherein thedispensing valve contacts the conical baffle when the dispensing valveis coupled to the receiving valve, and the dispensing valve drives theslidable sleeve away from the valve disc by engaging the conical baffle.5. A granular chemical applicator as defined by claim 3 wherein thedispensing valve comprises a housing having a passage, the housing islocated inside the package, the housing is also provided with a firstvalve seat, a valve member is positioned inside the housing and isprovided with a sharp edge for contacting the first valve seat therebysealing the package, sliding the valve member away from the first valveseat allows chemical to flow though the passage past the valve seat andout of the package.
 6. A granular chemical applicator as defined byclaim 5 wherein a spring is positioned between the valve member and thehousing for biasing the valve member in contact with the first valveseat.
 7. A granular chemical applicator as defined by claim 6 whereinthe valve member is provided with a guide post which cooperates with aguide aperture formed in the housing for guiding the movement of thevalve member.
 8. A granular chemical applicator as defined by claim 5wherein the receiving valve is provided with an outer cup havingupstanding walls, and the dispensing valve is provided with an innercup, the inner cup is telescopically received into the outer cup.
 9. Agranular chemical applicator as defined by claim 8 wherein the outer cupis provided with inwardly projecting lugs and the inner cup is providedwith camming grooves which cooperate with the inwardly projecting lugsfor driving the dispensing valve towards the receiving valve.
 10. Agranular chemical applicator as defined by claim 9 wherein thestationary valve disc is provided with upward extending projectionswhich cooperate with downward extending projections of the valve memberwhen the dispensing valve is coupled to the receiving valve forrotatively locking the valve disc to the valve member.
 11. A granularchemical applicator as defined by claim 10 wherein the housing isprovided with a second valve seat which cooperates with the slidingsleeve of the receiving valve for forming a seal between the slidingsleeve and the housing when the receiving valve and dispensing valve arecoupled together.
 12. A granular chemical applicator as defined by claim11 wherein the valve seat of the sliding sleeve engages the second valveseat forming the seal between the sliding sleeve and the housing.
 13. Agranular chemical applicator comprising:application means for applying agranular chemical; a metering valve operatively associated with theapplication means for controlling the flow of chemical to theapplication means; a package for holding a chemical to be delivered tothe metering valve; a dispensing valve mounted to the package forcontrolling the flow of chemical from the package; a receiving valveoperatively associated with the metering valve for receiving chemicalfrom the package through the dispensing valve and directing it to themetering valve, the receiving valve comprises a stationary valve discand a sliding sleeve having a valve seat which contacts the disc, thereceiving valve is opened by sliding the sliding sleeve away from thevalve disc when the dispensing valve is coupled to the receiving valve,the stationary valve disc is mounted to a tower that projects upwardlyfrom the application means, when the dispensing valve is uncoupled fromthe receiving valve the slidable sleeve rises up the tower towards thestationary disc establishing a new fill level in the hopper andproviding additional room in the hopper for granular chemical located inthe closed conduit formed between the valves; and a sequencing means foropening the receiving valve first and closing the receiving valve lastwhen directing granular chemical from the dispensing valve to thereceiving valve.
 14. A granular chemical applicator as defined by claim13 wherein the receiving valve is provided with a conical portion andthe sliding sleeve is provided with a conical baffle that overlies theconical portion.
 15. A granular chemical applicator as defined by claim14 wherein a spring is positioned between the conical portion and theconical baffle for biasing the slidable sleeve upwardly into contactwith the stationary valve disc.
 16. A granular chemical applicator asdefined by claim 15 wherein the dispensing valve contacts the conicalbaffle when the dispensing valve is coupled to the receiving valve, andthe dispensing valve drives the slidable sleeve away from the valve discby engaging the conical baffle.
 17. A granular chemical applicator asdefined by claim 16 wherein the dispensing valve comprises a housinghaving a passage, the housing is located inside the package, the housingis also provided with a first valve seat, a valve member is positionedinside the housing and is provided with a sharp edge for contacting thefirst valve seat thereby sealing the package, sliding the valve memberaway from the first valve seat allows chemical to flow though thepassage past the valve seat and out of the package.
 18. A granularchemical applicator as defined by claim 17 wherein a spring ispositioned between the tubular portion and the housing for biasing thetubular portion in contact with the first valve seat.
 19. A granularchemical applicator as defined by claim 18 wherein the valve member isprovided with a guide post which cooperates with a guide aperture formedin the housing for guiding the movement of the valve member.
 20. Agranular chemical applicator as defined by claim 17 wherein thereceiving valve is provided with an outer cup having upstanding walls,and the dispensing valve is provided with an inner cup, the inner cup istelescopically received into the outer cup.
 21. A granular chemicalapplicator as defined by claim 20 wherein the outer cup is provided withinwardly projecting lugs and the inner cup is provided with camminggrooves which cooperate with the inwardly projecting lugs for drivingthe dispensing valve towards the receiving valve.
 22. A granularchemical applicator as defined by claim 21 wherein the stationary valvedisc is provided with upward extending projections which cooperate withdownward extending projections of the valve member when the dispensingvalve is coupled to the receiving valve for rotatively locking the valvedisc to the valve member.
 23. A granular chemical applicator as definedby claim 22 wherein the housing is provided with a second valve seatwhich cooperates with the sliding sleeve of the receiving valve forforming a seal between the sliding sleeve and the housing when thereceiving valve and dispensing valve are coupled together.
 24. Agranular chemical applicator as defined by claim 23 wherein the valveseat of the sliding sleeve engages the second valve seat forming theseal between the sliding sleeve and the housing.